The field draws upon multiple theoretical perspectives and research paradigms to understand the complexities associated with human learning, cognition, and development.
[2] The society is widely interdisciplinary and includes members from cognitive science, educational psychology, computer science, anthropology, sociology, information sciences, neurosciences, education, design studies, instructional design, and other fields; it is related to but distinct from the field of educational technology.
[3] Currently the society includes members from six continents and hosts conferences globally.
In the 2009 edition, the ISLS-sponsored International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning was ranked second highest impact journal in education and educational research.
[8] Past presidents include notable scholars from the field, including three members of the US National Academy of Education and five Fellows of the American Educational Research Association.